PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between james franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying White's choice of entrance music: Given Up. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

franco
vs
White

225 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, james franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul White!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
franco fails to land the takedown.
franco shoots in but White avoids the takedown attempt easily.
franco fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for james franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
franco tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but White swivels and escapes.
franco misses with a series of wild punches.
Jab from franco.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
franco fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
franco throws a leg kick but White checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from franco.
franco fails with the takedown.
franco shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts White as he jumps to the side.
franco is breathing heavily.
franco shoots for a double leg takedown but White sprawls well. He's pushed franco's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
franco wants to clinch.

White closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White has knee on belly and moves into mount.
White working franco over with strikes here.
White avoids the attempt from franco to control.
franco really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
White with a couple of short strikes.
franco tries to hold on but White postures up.
White content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White prevents franco from getting the reversal.
franco wants to hold on but White pushes him away.
franco is bucking up trying to escape but White cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
franco takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
White avoids the attempt from franco to control.
White punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
White controlling from the full mount.
franco wants to control but White is having none of it.
franco tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
franco is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul White dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

franco misses with a takedown

and White counters with a takedown into side control.
franco is looking for a sweep.
White remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
White working the ground and pound from side control.
franco trying his best to control but White has mounted him.
White controlling from mount.
franco tries to lock up and control but White gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
franco taking shots to the head.
franco is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
White looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
franco is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
White looking to control and managing it successfully.
White landing strikes, looking to finish!
franco is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
White has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
White scoring with strikes but franco is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
franco tries to hold on but White postures up.
franco is looking to improve his position but White isn't that keen on the idea.
franco slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
franco tries to regain full guard. Instead though, White has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
White controlling from the full mount.
franco tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
White controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul White showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! franco's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

franco clinches but White breaks the clinch

and White counters with a nice double leg into guard.
franco will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
White seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

franco has his foot on White's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. White works his way back into a safe position though.
franco looking for a sweep. Not yet franco, not yet.
franco is striking from the bottom but White uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
White sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. franco defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
franco tries to roll over but White keeps him under control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
franco is trying to maintain the position but White is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
franco misses with a takedown

and White counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in franco's guard now.
White controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
White passes franco's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
White should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
franco trying to control but White postures up.
franco is trying to stand.
franco tries to get to full guard but White has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White prevents franco from standing back up.
White is thwarting franco's attempts to control the position.
franco is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
franco clinches but White breaks the clinch

and White decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in franco's guard.
White prevents franco from getting back to his feet.
franco avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
White is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White is pushing down on franco's leg trying to pass to half guard. franco is fighting to maintain full guard but White has managed to sneak the leg through.
White wants to pass the guard but franco is defending well.
franco wants to control the action here but instead White manages to pass to full mount!
White looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul White comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well White has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul White!